String holder



April 29, 1969 B. R. ALLISON STRING HOLDER Filed 001;. 9, 1967 FIG. I.

FIG. 2.-

FIG. 4.

FIG.3.

INVENTOR. BILL R, ALLISON BY FIG, 5.

United States Patent 3,440,729 STRING HOLDER Bill R. Allison, Deer Trail, Colo. 80105 Filed Oct. 9, 1967, Ser. No. 673,810 Int. Cl. B44d 3/00 US. CI. 3386 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention involves a device for holding flexible reference lines utilized by masons, carpenters and other workers employed in similarly related fields. The device comprises generally a pair of angle iron brackets pivotally connected to a center strap by means of rivets having enlarged upper ends. The edges of the angle iron brackets have scalloped teeth out thereon to engage a wall surface and at the same time hold the bracket slightly away from the said wall surface. A string is positioned to pass across the angle iron bracket and around the enlarged rivet where it is secured.

The prior art is replete with various anchoring devices employed to hold string reference lines used as a guide for a workman in the building of walled structures; however, most of the prior art devices are bulky, difficult to use and tend to slip. The latter defect allows the reference line to sag and in effect destroys the usefulness thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel line-holding device simple in design, easily positioned and free from undesirable slippage when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lineholding device with means thereon for quickly and accurately anchoring the device on a wall surface.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a line-holding device capable of being utilized on surfaces of varying widths.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from a careful reading of the following description and the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing the line-holding device mounted on a wall with a reference line positioned thereon and extending along the wall;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the line-holding device shown in FIGURE 1 with the brackets in extended position;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged bottom view of one of the anchoring brackets showing the scalloped teeth arrange ment and a string attached thereto in outline form;

FIGURE 4 is a reduced side elevational view similar to FIGURE 2 but with one bracket rotated 180 degrees; and,

FIGURE 5 is a plan view wherein the line-holding device is held in position at the edge and side of a wall.

In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, there is shown a relatively flat and rectangular-shaped center strap having the underside of opposed ends 12 and 14 thereof pivotally connected to the pair of angle iron brackets 16 and 18, respectively, by the enlarged rivets 20 and 22.

The angle iron brackets 16 and 18 are L-shaped in appearance and each comprises an upright portion 28 and a horizontal portion 30. The opposed upright portions 28 are designed to engage the opposite sides of the wall structure on which they are placed, while the horizontal portions 30 will extend a short distance transversely across the top of the said wall structure. The center strap 10, with the opposed ends 12 and 14 thereof pivotal- 3,440,729 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 1y connected to the horizontal portions 30, holds the brackets 16 and 18 and, more specifically, the upright portions 28 thereof the required distance apart so that they fit snugly against the opposed wall sides. The gripping action of both the bracket upright portions 28 and the bracket horizontal portions 30 is greatly enhanced by the scalloped edges 32 cut thereon. The scalloped nature of the bracket edge 32 also tends to hold the bracket surface slightly away from the structure on which it is positioned.

It will be noted that the rivets 20 and 22 have considerably enlarged upper ends. Their purpose is to provide a suitable means on which to secure the reference line or string 26. Thus, in operation and referring to FIGURES l, 3 and 5, the line-holder of the present invention is placed on a wall surface in a manner previously discussed and a string 26 is positioned to pass under the corner of the angle iron bracket 16 or 18 to the opposite end thereof where it is brought up and around the enlarged portion of the rivet 20 or 22 to which it is secured. The opposite end of the reference ring 26 is, of course, similarly positioned on a second similarly positioned and identical string holder (not shown). It is to be noted that the force placed upon the brackets 16 or 18 and the rivets 20 or 22 by the reference string 4 26 tends to cant the center strap 10 and, thus, force the said brackets to firmly engage the sides of a structure against which they are positioned.

The opposing uprights 28 of the angle iron brackets 16 and 18 as shown in FIGURE 2 are positioned substantially about 4 inches apart to accept the standard 4 inch block or brick. Where a narrower block, brick or wooden plank is to be engaged, one of the angle iron brackets 16 or 18 may be rotated about the rivets 20 or 22 substantially degrees as shown in FIGURE 4. This, obviously, narrows the separating distance between the opposing uprights 28.

In some instances, it may be desirable to run a line along the side of the wall and below the top thereof. In such a case, the present invention can be used as shown in FIGURE 5 with the reference line 26 passing through a scalloped notch in the bottom edge of the upright 28 of the angle iron bracket 16 or 18.

It is stressed that the various structures of the present invention can be made of any suitable material; however, it is preferable if they are manufactured from a sturdy lightweight metal, such as aluminum or other similar metal, in order to allow ease in movement and handling thereof.

It will be understood that the invention which has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration obviously may be have numerous modifications and variations without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for holding a reference line in position comprising:

an elongated center strap;

a pair of angle iron brackets each pivotally connected to the opposed ends of said center strap in fixed longitudinal relation thereto by a pair of rivets having enlarged heads, said heads including means for securing a reference line thereon, said rivets serving both as a pivotal connection between each of said angle irons and said center strap and as a projection on which the reference line is secured.

2. The line-holding device as defined in claim 1 wherein the center strap is fiat and substantially rectangular in appearance and wherein the angle iron brackets are substantially L-shaped in appearance, said angle iron brackets having scalloped edges thereon.

3. The line-holding device as defined in claim 2 wherein the L-shaped angle iron brackets each have an upright portion and a horizontal portion, said horizontal portions being pivotally connected to the undersurface of the opposed ends of said center strap.

4. A device for holding a positioned reference line comprising:

a fiat rectangular-shaped center strap;

a pair of L-shaped angle iron brackets each having upright and horizontal portions with each portion having scalloped edges; and,

a pair of rivets having enlarged heads, said heads including means for securing a reference line thereon, said rivets forming a pivotal connection between said horizontal portion of each of said angle irons and the undersurface of the opposed ends of said center strap to permit relative rotational movement therebetween with the enlarged heads of said rivets serving as a projection adapted to secure 2. reference line, a positioned reference line in tension having a canting effect on said center strap thus forcing said scalloped edges of said brackets to firmly engage the Wall structure against which said brackets are placed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,934 5/1877 Vaughan 33-44 X 995,714 6/1911 Platt 33-85 2,030,539 2/1936 Riley 3386 2,529,056 11/1950 Sprowl 33-86 2,585,160 2/1952 Munn 3385 2,764,818 10/1956 Gard 33189 2,806,290 9/1957 Tiefel 33-85 FOREIGN PATENTS 126,177 11/1947 Australia.

20 HARRY N. HAROIAN, Primary Examiner. 

